Self-Shaping Monolithic Reticular Materials: Ingredients for Success

Abstract

Reticular materials are one of the more promising tools that humankind has developed to address the required energy transition. Despite their great potential showcased in the last decade, their use is so far mainly confined to the laboratory bench due to drawbacks derived from their powdery morphology. Unlike zeolites and activated carbons, the challenges in shaping and densification of reticular materials hamper their full implementation in the industry. Hence, strategies for shaping and integrating these materials need to be prioritized. Most of the existing strategies rely on applying mechanical pressure and adding chemical binders, but these approaches, although useful for shaping, diminish their final adsorption capacities and do not bring their theoretical, predicted performance. On the other hand, obtaining self-shaped, dense bodies—so-called monoliths—arises as a very promising and scalable alternative. Sol–gel monoliths are still scarce in the scientific literature despite their outstanding performance, particularly in terms of volumetric adsorption capacity. This review intends to help expand this scope by offering a rational guide on the self-shaping of dense monoliths for reticular materials, as well as a complete revision of the state-of-the-art in the field.